12
Sustainable Salisbury
Wetlands Series
g
Frogs
g and Froglets
The City of Salisbury’s wetlands are home to various
amphibian species, including the Common Froglet,
the Eastern Banjo Frog and the Spotted Grass and
Brown Tree Frogs. In constructed wetlands there are
many different habitats for frogs at various stages of
their life cycle.
Many frog species lay clusters of eggs in
sheltered locations near reeds and other
riparian vegetation (plants found near
water). Once eggs develop into tadpoles,
they require plenty of safe havens from
the many birds and other predators that
also inhabit the wetlands.
Top The ground-dwelling Spotted Grass Frog
(Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) will excrete large amounts
of mucous when startled.
Photo: Luke Simon
Above A lot can be learned from frogs, especially for
those who participate in the annual frog census.
Photo: Waterwatch SA
Frogs are very sensitive to pollution
and habitat degradation. Their presence
in a wetland can indicate a healthy
environment that allows them to develop
from egg to tadpole to adult frog.
When fully grown from their tadpole
form, frogs can be found almost
anywhere in a wetland - in the water,
under logs or groundcovers, or clinging
to the underside of boardwalks and
other artificial structures.
The Common Froglet is the most
commonly found frog in streams and
water bodies of the Mount Lofty Ranges
and south-east South Australia. Its skin
colour and texture is highly variable.
The Brown Tree Frog is a slender,
medium-sized frog with a broad head
and rounded snout.
You might also be lucky enough to see
or hear the Eastern Banjo Frog with its
‘plonking’ musical sound.
An annual frog census shows where
frogs are present and where they are
absent from South Australian waterways.
By comparing the results from year to
year, changes in the range and numbers
of each species can be determined.
Learn more
For more information on related topics,
see the other fact sheets in the Wetlands
series. You may also like to visit the
following websites for more information:
Australian frogs
www.frogsaustralia.net.au
www.frogs.org.au
Frog Census
www.frogatlas.com.au
Top The female Southern Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewingi)
lays up to 600 eggs at a time,
in clumps of about 10 to 15 eggs.
Photo: KESAB
Above Southern Brown Tree Frog tadpoles are pale yellow
to dark grey in colour, with clear fins.
Photo: Amphibian Research Centre
Frogs are easy to monitor because each
species has its own distinct call. From
the tapes recorded by the frog census
participants, scientists can accurately
identify which frog species are present
at each location.
Contact the Watershed
Salisbury Highway, Mawson Lakes SA 5095
Telephone 08 8258 0862 Email [email protected]
Salisbury’s Water Fact Sheets are printed on Mega Recycled chlorine-free paper which is manufactured using 50% FSC Certified virgin fibre and 50% post-consumer waste recycled fibre.